Newport Transport

[Dai Corner]

Mod note: thread split from Stagecoach West discussion

Newport Transport will be doing the 761 and 24 as their C4 and 72

New services in the Forest of Dean

From Monday, 21 November, Newport Bus will run tow news services from Chepstow

www.newportbus.co.uk

From Monday, 21 November, two new routes will run from Chepstow; route C4 will be the new Chepstow town service serving Sedbury and Beachley, and route 72 will be the new rural service to Lydney in the Forest of Dean, serving Tutshill and the villages to Lydney.

We will operate the two new routes with a dedicated team of drivers to improve efficiency and quickly create a sense of familiarity. At times, the customers will also benefit from some of the newest zero-emission electric buses in the Newport Bus fleet. All our services accept contactless payment or cash (exact change only). Some tickets will also soon be available on the Newport Bus app.

 

[ATW158Xpress]

Newport Transport will be doing the 761 and 24 as their C4 and 72

New services in the Forest of Dean

From Monday, 21 November, Newport Bus will run tow news services from Chepstow

www.newportbus.co.uk

Be interesting if 72 and C4 workings will be self contained or be interworked with the 73 so the vehicle can get back to Newport as the timetable does allow that to happen in both directions in Chepstow.

 

[markymark2000]

Be interesting if 72 and C4 workings will be self contained or be interworked with the 73 so the vehicle can get back to Newport as the timetable does allow that to happen in both directions in Chepstow.

Sounds like it's going to be separate like the T7 is. Not sure how drivers get to/from Chepstow but the buses tend to be kept just on the T7

 

[Westnat]

Sounds like it's going to be separate like the T7 is. Not sure how drivers get to/from Chepstow but the buses tend to be kept just on the T7

They will be interworked to enable them to return to Newport.

 

[markymark2000]

They will be interworked to enable them to return to Newport.

Little bit surprising. In which case, it seems a bit odd to be advertising it as a 'dedicated team of drivers' if that 'dedicated team' is actually a larger roster incorporating a larger number of routes.

 

[Dai Corner]

Little bit surprising. In which case, it seems a bit odd to be advertising it as a 'dedicated team of drivers' if that 'dedicated team' is actually a larger roster incorporating a larger number of routes.

I guess the vehicles are interworking, not the drivers?

 

[rcro]

As the two services are a one-bus working, you're not going to keep two drivers busy all day without them doing some other routes too.

 

[Dai Corner]

As the two services are a one-bus working, you're not going to keep two drivers busy all day without them doing some other routes too.

The first service leaves Chepstow at 0652 (before the first arrival from Newport) so presumably runs empty from the depot. The driver would need to book on at, say, 0600. The last arrival back at Chepstow is 1915 giving time to return to the depot and book off around 2000. So you'd need two drivers minimum.

Sounds like it's going to be separate like the T7 is. Not sure how drivers get to/from Chepstow but the buses tend to be kept just on the T7

The first two T7s start back at Magor and the last two extend there, running empty from/to the depot.

The Welsh Government provide two route-liveried Volvos for the T7, though NT often use their own E400s or Yutongs. I've never seen or heard of the Volvos being used on any other routes.

 

[Newport Lad]

Hi all.
The first and last jouneys run dead from depot. The remaining journeys interwork one or two trips with the 73. It’s any 73 that currently doesn’t interwork with the existing Chepstow Town services - this is to ensure that an Enviro ends up on C1-3 but an electric can do 72/C4. This is important as one of the electric workings goes on to an Usk College journey on route 60.

On Saturdays the whole day works on Enviros as follows: 73, C3, C2, C1, C4, 72, 73 break. The bus then goes onto 37, 60 then back on to the 73 to start the cycle all over again.

The dedicated team of drivers is a misleading. I just means that it’s not part of a huge city rota. It’s on a rural rota.

 

[Dai Corner]

Hi all.
The first and last jouneys run dead from depot. The remaining journeys interwork one or two trips with the 73. It’s any 73 that currently doesn’t interwork with the existing Chepstow Town services - this is to ensure that an enviro ends up on C1-3 but an electric can do 72/C4. This is important as one of the electric workings goes on to an Usk College journey on route 60.

On Saturdays the whole day works on enviros as follows: 73, C3, C2, C1, C4, 72, 73 break. The bus then goes onto 37, 60 then back on to the 73 to start the cycle all over again.

The dedicated team of drivers is a misleading. I just means that it’s not part of a huge city rota. It’s on a rural rota

Thanks for the detailed info

Leading the way in sustainable transport

Newport Transport set out its ambitious plans to be the UK’s first fully electric bus and coach service by 2023.

www.newportbus.co.uk

At our celebration event at ICC Wales, we set out our ambitious plans to be the UK’s first fully electric bus and coach service by 2023 and to make Newport the first city in the UK with a fully electric bus fleet by the end of 2023.

Newport Transport has also set out the development of its coach division with the introduction in Wales of the first electric coaches. The fleet will include four fully electric Yutong TCE12 coaches, which will begin operating in the March of 2023.

The delivery of a further 12 Yutong E10 & E12 electric buses in the same period will take the electric vehicle (EV) bus fleet to 44 electric buses. The expansion will make up 44 per cent of Newport Transport’s overall bus fleet, the largest ratio of electric to diesel buses in a fleet outside of London.

 

[GusB]

Eight diesel deckers are being converted to electric.

Equipmake to repower Newport deckers - Bus & Coach Buyer

Equipmake is to repower eight of Newport Transport’s double-deckers with its electric drivetrain technology. The eight ICE buses to be repowered include five diesel ADL Enviro400s and three hybrid Volvo B5LHs with Wrightbus Gemini bodies. Each will be converted to incorporate Equipmake’s...

www.busandcoachbuyer.com

Equipmake is to repower eight of Newport Transport’s double-deckers with its electric drivetrain technology.

The eight ICE buses to be repowered include five diesel ADL Enviro400s and three hybrid Volvo B5LHs with Wrightbus Gemini bodies. Each will be converted to incorporate Equipmake’s scalable Zero-Emission Drivetrain (ZED) technology, equipped with two 109kWh standard battery packs, offering two battery capacity sizes including 218kWh, providing a 90-mile daily range, and 382 kWh providing a 150-mile daily range.

The repowered buses will join Newport Transport’s fleet of 49 electric buses and coaches.

 

[Dai Corner]

Eight diesel deckers are being converted to electric.

Equipmake to repower Newport deckers - Bus & Coach Buyer

Equipmake is to repower eight of Newport Transport’s double-deckers with its electric drivetrain technology. The eight ICE buses to be repowered include five diesel ADL Enviro400s and three hybrid Volvo B5LHs with Wrightbus Gemini bodies. Each will be converted to incorporate Equipmake’s...

www.busandcoachbuyer.com

Interesting.

I can't remember where, but they had hinted about electrifying some of their existing diesel fleet.

90 miles would be plenty to cover school services. NT have most of the City's school contracts.

 

[JD2168]

Eight diesel deckers are being converted to electric.

Equipmake to repower Newport deckers - Bus & Coach Buyer

Equipmake is to repower eight of Newport Transport’s double-deckers with its electric drivetrain technology. The eight ICE buses to be repowered include five diesel ADL Enviro400s and three hybrid Volvo B5LHs with Wrightbus Gemini bodies. Each will be converted to incorporate Equipmake’s...

www.busandcoachbuyer.com

With regards this interesting move by Newport Bus how have the re powered deckers at Reading Buses been performing, could give some idea to how these will perform besides the information in the post above.

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Eight diesel deckers are being converted to electric.

Equipmake to repower Newport deckers - Bus & Coach Buyer

Equipmake is to repower eight of Newport Transport’s double-deckers with its electric drivetrain technology. The eight ICE buses to be repowered include five diesel ADL Enviro400s and three hybrid Volvo B5LHs with Wrightbus Gemini bodies. Each will be converted to incorporate Equipmake’s...

www.busandcoachbuyer.com

Does anyone know where the 3 hybrid Volvos are coming from?

There's three for sale at Xelabus and Equipmake had four ex-Preston Volvos. One rebuilt as the testbed so possibly the other three?
Lothian had four for sale but as of 1st July one two were now unsold.

 

[GusB]

Does anyone know where the 3 hybrid Volvos are coming from?

There's three for sale at Xelabus and Equipmake had four ex-Preston Volvos. One rebuilt as the testbed so possibly the other three?
Lothian had four for sale but as of 1st July one two were now unsold.

I've no idea, I'm afraid, but it was mentioned in the Lothian thread that they had some for sale:

In other news, two of 591-594 were listed as sold on the Lothian Buses fleet sales page on Facebook today (according to the edit history).

It may just be coincidental but this route one article was also published today where it states Newport Transport have sourced second hand B5LHs for conversion to full electric - don't think I've seen any other B5LHs for sale?

 

[Dfatcontroller]

I've no idea, I'm afraid, but it was mentioned in the Lothian thread that they had some for sale:

Two of the Preston four which Equipmake have had for a while now have recent V5s issued on DVLA (May 2023).

 

[Marcus Fryer]

355 (CE72 YRL) has been repainted in Traws Cymru red & grey, complete with branding. According to bustimes.org, 354 (CE72 YRM) is also in this livery.

History – 354 - CE72 YRM – bustimes.org

 

[ATW158Xpress]

Newport bus picking up tendered routes in Monmouthshire from 1 April 2024.

Announcing New Bus Routes from April 1, 2024

Delighted to inform you that Newport Bus will bring you new routes from April 1, 2024.

www.newportbus.co.uk

Following a recent retendering exercise by the local authorities across Wales, we are pleased to announce that we have been successful in gaining the following routes:

63 Chepstow – Cwmbran via Usk, Pontypool
65 Chepstow – Monmouth via Trellech
68 Monmouth – Abergavenny via Raglan
69 Chepstow – Monmouth via Tintern
75 Magor – Sudbrook via Caldicot, Caerwent, Llanvair Discoed
R1 Newport – Pontymister Tesco via Ty Sign, Risca
R2 Pontymister Tesco – Ynysddu via Risca, Fernlea, Ty Sign, Morrisons
A3 Raglan – Brynmawr via Great Oak, Abergavenny, Gilwern, Clydach


We have submitted the appropriate documentation to the Traffic Commissioner and will publish full details when we have received the necessary confirmation. We look forward to welcoming our new customers very soon.

 

[Dai Corner]

Newport bus picking up tendered routes in Monmouthshire from 1 April 2024.

Announcing New Bus Routes from April 1, 2024

Delighted to inform you that Newport Bus will bring you new routes from April 1, 2024.

www.newportbus.co.uk

Routes and current operators as follows

63 Chepstow – Cwmbran via Usk - Phil Anslow
65 Chepstow – Monmouth via Trellech - Monmouthshire County Council
68 Monmouth – Abergavenny via Raglan - Adventure Travel
69 Chepstow – Monmouth via Tintern - Phil Anslow
75 Magor – Sudbrook via Caldicot, Caerwent, Llanfair Discoed - Monmouthshire County Council
R1 Newport – Pontymister Tesco via Ty Sign, Risca - Stagecoach(!) (Sundays are operated by Adventure Travel)
R2 Pontymister Tesco – Ynysddu via Risca, Fernlea, Ty Sign, Morrisons - Stagecoach
A3 Raglan – Brynmawr via Great Oak, Abergavenny, Gilwern, Clydach - Adventure Travel (this route is currently Abergavenny-Brynmawr)

(Credit Paul Harley posting in the Newport Transport Facebook Group)

Pedanticly, The R1 and R2 are tendered by Caerphilly Council rather than Monmouthshire.

 

[Great_Western]

Routes and current operators as follows

63 Chepstow – Cwmbran via Usk - Phil Anslow
65 Chepstow – Monmouth via Trellech - Monmouthshire County Council
68 Monmouth – Abergavenny via Raglan - Adventure Travel
69 Chepstow – Monmouth via Tintern - Phil Anslow
75 Magor – Sudbrook via Caldicot, Caerwent, Llanfair Discoed - Monmouthshire County Council
R1 Newport – Pontymister Tesco via Ty Sign, Risca - Stagecoach(!) (Sundays are operated by Adventure Travel)
R2 Pontymister Tesco – Ynysddu via Risca, Fernlea, Ty Sign, Morrisons - Stagecoach
A3 Raglan – Brynmawr via Great Oak, Abergavenny, Gilwern, Clydach - Adventure Travel (this route is currently Abergavenny-Brynmawr)

(Credit Paul Harley posting in the Newport Transport Facebook Group)

Pedanticly, The R1 and R2 are tendered by Caerphilly Council rather than Monmouthshire.

Gaining the R1 and R2 seems a logical move, but the last time Newport started expanding further afield there was a marked decline in service and quality shortly afterwards, so it will be really interesting to see how this plays out.

Will also be interesting to see what vehicles are used on these routes. Are there enough spare E200's and E10's in the fleet already to cover the work?

As an aside, I also see that they are increasing the amount of Flixbus work:

Newport Transport to double FlixBus commitment by summer - routeone

Newport Transport is to double its commitment to the FlixBus scheduled coach network before summer 2024, the operator has announced.

www.route-one.net

Newport Transport will double its existing commitment to the FlixBus scheduled coach network by summer 2024.

Those efforts will see the delivery of seven new Yutong GT12 coaches and an uplift of 22 jobs at the municipal operator. A new route will be introduced between Swansea and Birmingham, and frequencies will be enhanced on existing provision between South Wales and Gatwick and Heathrow Airports.

The increased involvement for Newport Transport is based on what FlixBus UK says is a multi-year strategy between the two businesses. It follows a successful initial six months of working together along the M4 corridor.

 

[markymark2000]

Are there enough spare E200's and E10's in the fleet already to cover the work?

Purely based on Bustimes, there seem to be Scanias in the fleet still which aren't doing anything. Could some of these be deployed on the local routes to free up vehicles to go on the tenders?

The 65 and 75 are minibus routes as well so I am wondering if Newport will get more of those? They have 3 already but they are employed on the DRT routes.

 

[MasterSpenny]

It looks like the first 24 plate buses to be discovered are Newport Transport’s pair of Yutong U11DDs due: the first one is said to be CK24AUH.

24 Registration Buses and Coaches | The Bus Forum

with just over 2 weeks before 24 plates come out I thought I would 24 plate page Newport Bus as received its first yutong U11DD CK24 AUH with one more to follow

tangytango.proboards.com

with just over 2 weeks before 24 plates come out I thought I would 24 plate page


Newport Bus as received its first yutong U11DD CK24 AUH with one more to follow

 

[DaveHarries]

It looks like the first 24 plate buses to be discovered are Newport Transport’s pair of Yutong U11DDs due: the first one is said to be CK24AUH.

24 Registration Buses and Coaches | The Bus Forum

with just over 2 weeks before 24 plates come out I thought I would 24 plate page Newport Bus as received its first yutong U11DD CK24 AUH with one more to follow

tangytango.proboards.com

While driving from Penarth to Bristol about a week ago I saw a demonstrator heading westbound so seems they are getting the driver familiarisation in.

Dave

 

[SW Buses]

The demonstrator has been there for around 2/3 weeks and is being used in service.

 

[kijeta]

Routes and current operators as follows

63 Chepstow – Cwmbran via Usk - Phil Anslow
65 Chepstow – Monmouth via Trellech - Monmouthshire County Council
68 Monmouth – Abergavenny via Raglan - Adventure Travel
69 Chepstow – Monmouth via Tintern - Phil Anslow
75 Magor – Sudbrook via Caldicot, Caerwent, Llanfair Discoed - Monmouthshire County Council
R1 Newport – Pontymister Tesco via Ty Sign, Risca - Stagecoach(!) (Sundays are operated by Adventure Travel)
R2 Pontymister Tesco – Ynysddu via Risca, Fernlea, Ty Sign, Morrisons - Stagecoach
A3 Raglan – Brynmawr via Great Oak, Abergavenny, Gilwern, Clydach - Adventure Travel (this route is currently Abergavenny-Brynmawr)

(Credit Paul Harley posting in the Newport Transport Facebook Group)

Pedanticly, The R1 and R2 are tendered by Caerphilly Council rather than Monmouthshire.

Just to add more information:
Routeing for 68 has been simplified, where east of raglan (raglan-monmouth) remains the same, but west of Raglan (raglan-abergavenny) will adopt the current 83's routeing
The previous routeing for 68 has been replaced by A3's extension; however that means it is now impossible, for example, to go between great oak and monmouth.

Routeing for 75 has been significantly changed. Previously, it was a figure-of-eight starting from Caldicot, down to Sudbrook, back to caldicot, then caerwent, then back to calidcot. The new 75 is Magor-Caldicot-Sudbrook, via Severn Tunnel Juction station, however caerwent and llanfair discoed are both only served on eastbound services. Moreover, llanfair discoed was previously not served at all by any service. Note that it is impossible now for caerwent and llanfair discoed residents to go to severn tunnel junction; although it is possible to go from severn tunnel junction to those two villages.

Some services have now sunday services, including 60 and 69. Monmouth, previously served only by 34 on a sunday, now has 34, 24, 60, 69.




Unrelated to newport bus, but MCC and NAT have both significantly reduced their presence, with W3, W4, W5, discontinuing their iconic joint operation madness, renumbering to M1, M2, M3, and increasing frequency. A5 and A6, however, bizarely are going from NAT to MCC

 

[Westnat]

Purely based on Bustimes, there seem to be Scanias in the fleet still which aren't doing anything. Could some of these be deployed on the local routes to free up vehicles to go on the tenders?

The 65 and 75 are minibus routes as well so I am wondering if Newport will get more of those? They have 3 already but they are employed on the DRT routes.

Delivery of Z45 - Z55 has commenced. These are all Yutong E9L vehicles.